Democracy Impacts

Brexit Provokes Worries on EU Free Trade, Regulation

December 05, 2017

An article in The Economist raises concerns the Britain's departure from the EU will mean the loss of a hard-line voice on free trade and the perils of over-regulation from the supranational bloc but predicts that Brexit may ultimately spur on the idea of a more "flexible" Europe that "accommodates a variety of preferences" from different tiers of membership.
Pro-EU Observers Duel over Catalonia Conflict

December 04, 2017

Dueling commentary in Politico demonstrates the growing rift among pro-EU civil society groups over how to resolve the conflict over Catalonian independence, with some calling for the EU to take a more active stance as mediator and offer Catalonia a more powerful role in the EU and others pushing for the EU to treat the conflict as purely an internal matter for Spain to resolve.
Multi-Speed EU Proposal Gains Civil Society Support

December 04, 2017

Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform calls on European leaders to heed the calls from French President Emmanuel Macron for a "two-speed" EU that "leaves reluctant countries behind and allows others to move ahead on key policies," as this model would be a more-attractive system for potential future members.
Poland Expresses Concerns on EU Emissions Reforms

December 01, 2017

Bloomberg reports that Polish officials have expressed concerns that the EU's planned overhaul of its Emissions Trading System, designed to reduce the reliance of member states on fossil fuels and move them toward renewable energy, will make aid unavailable to coal-fired power plants in the country.
Catalan Separatists Lament Lack of EU Support

December 01, 2017

An article in The Washington Post highlights the disappointment of Catalan campaigners that the EU has not supported its calls for separation and has not investigated its complaints against anti-protester violence by Spanish authorities during their ongoing push for independence from Spain.
EU Agency Seeks Unified Climate Adaptation Policies

November 29, 2017

A report from the European Environment Agency calls for "closer policy alignment" and more access to EU funding among the bloc's member states to permit adaptation to the ongoing impacts of global warming.
British MP: EU Must Offer Trade Deal for Exit Fee

November 28, 2017

Bernard Jenkin MP writes that the only scenario in which the UK should offer money to the EU in Brexit negotiations is in return for a free trade deal with the bloc.
UK Official Bolsters Brexit "No Deal" Threat

November 28, 2017

UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox recently warned EU leaders in an interview that the British government is not "bluffing" on its willingness to leave the bloc without a trade or other deal if Brexit negotiations fail, asserting that trading with the EU and the rest of the world under World Trade Organization rules is not a "nightmare scenario."
Polish PM Criticizes Multi-Speed EU Proposals

November 27, 2017

An article in The Daily Express reports on the public opposition by Central and Eastern European leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydio, to the idea of a "multi-speed EU," permitting some members to transfer their sovereignty to the supranational organization quicker than others, currently under consideration by EU and Western European officials.
EU Committee Calls for New Migrant Quota Scheme

November 27, 2017

EUobserver reports that, dismissing opposition by EU Council President Donald Tusk to future migrant quota schemes, the Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament adopted a report calling for new minimum migrant quotas for each EU member state and the withdrawal of development funding from countries that refused to comply with the policy.